Your Teeth Need Pink & Healthy Gums

Teeth whitening in London can produce a gorgeously white smile, but it’s of little consequence if the gums supporting the teeth aren’t in good condition. Without strong healthy gums, teeth will simply fall out, regardless of whether or not they are white. Gums have a vital job to do in helping to keep the teeth firmly anchored into the jawbone, and they do need a bit of tender loving care to keep them in the pink. Gums are designed to fit snugly around the teeth, and there shouldn’t be any gaps or signs of recession. Early signs that something may be wrong with your gums include:

Noticing they bleed whenever you brush or floss

They might look swollen or almost shiny in appearance

They feel tender when you touch them

Your teeth look longer than before

You notice gaps appearing in between your teeth

One of the first signs is definitely noticing that gums bleed when brushed. This is not normal and does require swift attention. The best thing to do is to book a checkup with your dentist, and to also make an appointment to have your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist or a hygienist. Your dentist will be able to tell you whether or not you have the early signs of gum disease, a common condition that affects a large percentage of the population at some stage or another.

Gum Disease

Gum disease is generally caused by a failure to brush and floss effectively. Incorrect brushing and flossing allows plaque bacteria to build up on the teeth, producing toxins that irritate and inflame the gums. Professional cleaning helps remove the buildup of plaque bacteria, and should help put you back on the path towards having healthy gums that will be strong enough for tooth whitening in London. Catching the disease at this stage is vital as it is relatively easy to put right.

If you ignore these early signs then you may go on to develop periodontal disease. This is far more serious and can even be chronic, meaning you’ll require regular treatment simply to keep it in check. It causes the gums to pull back from the teeth, so you may notice you begin to look a little ‘long in the tooth.’ Without this support your teeth are likely to become loose and may even need extracting. Treatments for periodontal disease include a deep cleaning process called scaling and planning which helps to remove the pockets of infection that can develop around the teeth, and also smoothes the exposed root surfaces of the teeth, making it more difficult for plaque bacteria to build up. If the damage to your gums is extensive, then it might even be necessary to think about having gum grafts to try to replace the lost tissue.

Periodontal disease is the most likely reason for losing teeth, and anyone with this condition would not be suitable for teeth whitening in London; it would be far too uncomfortable to use peroxide gel on the teeth as it is highly likely the roots of the teeth will have become exposed. This is one of the reasons why it is essential to choose a highly experienced dentist such as Dr. Chan to whiten teeth safely. He will have ensured your teeth don’t have any signs of gum disease during an initial checkup. In contrast buying an over-the-counter whitening kit, or purchasing bleaching products online will not guarantee your safety during any teeth whitening in London. It is also one of the reasons as to why it’s so essential to not ignore those six monthly reminders from your dentist.

It is far cheaper and easier to maintain oral health than to try to put it right. In addition it means you’ll be able to safely continue whitening your teeth at the Smile Studio in London. Most importantly of all, you’ll know your smile is not just beautifully white, but also perfectly healthy.